Local lanes to re-open Friday

Tuesday

Oct 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The local bowling alley is reopening this Friday after it was put up for sale late this summer.

Shawna Jankoviak Staff Writer, @sjankoviakCDT @sjankoviak

The local bowling alley is reopening this Friday after it was put up for sale late this summer.
The Cheboygan Bowling Center closed its doors earlier this year after 36 years in business. According to a letter sent out by the owners, Janie and Jim Giuliani, who also own the Gaylord Bowling Center, the decision to sell was a tough one.
“I have worked with my bank for over two years to restructure our financing to better reflect the current poor economic situation and they have not accepted any of our restructuring plans nor proposed any modified plans of their own,” the letter said. “No matter how much I want to keep Cheboygan open for the best customers around, I cannot do so under my original financing terms.”
The letter stated that the Gaylord Bowling Center would remain open and Cheboygan's league bowlers and other customers were invited to bowl there. The bowling alley was listed with Roger Kopernick of Exit Realty on behalf of the Giulianis and their bank. It was listed at $450,000.
According to Cheboygan Bowling Center Manager Bonnie Saylor, the business was able to negotiate a deal with the bank to restructure its financing as of last week. The bowling alley is no longer up for sale and will reopen on Friday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. Leagues will resume on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with open bowling each day and night. The bowling alley will be closed on Mondays.
Although most regular operations will resume, Saylor said the lanes will be resurfaced before leagues begin. This alley is unique in that it still has wood lanes, whereas many other alleys have covered their lanes with a synthetic veneer. The alley was built with 30 lanes, but some were eliminated when the center installed golf simulators a few years back.
“We are really excited,” Saylor said of the reopening. She said anyone with questions about leagues or other information can call her at 420-0765 until the alley gets its phone number reactivated.